IPL: De Villiers, Kohli power Bangalore to 185/3 against Pune

Star batsmen AB de Villiers (83) and Virat Kohli (80) smashed quick-fire half-centuries to steer Royal Challengers Bangalore to a challenging 185/3 in 20 overs against Rising Pune Supergiants in an Indian Premier League (IPL) contest here on Friday.

En route his 46-ball knock, de Villiers struck six boundaries and four sixes while skipper Kohli hit seven fours and two six in his 63-ball innings.

Put into bat, Bangalore got off a slow start, losing opener K.L. Rahul (7) in the fourth over to put a breaks on the scoring.

But his opening partner Virat Kohli and de Villiers kept the scoreboard ticking, sneaking in with ones, twos to post 48/1 after completion of the powerplay.

But soon after the powerplay, the in-form duo unleashed their pyrotechnics to smash boundaries and sixes at regular intervals without losing any wickets to take team to 97/1 in 11 overs that set up the stage for yet another big score.

Kohli and de Villiers made it look simple as the Indian and South African pair brought up their 100-run partnership for the second wicket in just 69 balls and helped their team reach 128/1 in 15 overs.

Kohli got a life in the 16th over while batting on 49. Trying to hit off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin out of the park, eventually got a top edge which was put down by Ankit Sharma at mid-off.

The duo put on 155-run partnership for the second wicket to take team to a competitive total, before Kohli and De Villiers were dismissed in successive balls in 20th over.

Thisara Perera (3-34) was the pick of the bowlers for Pune.

Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore: 185/3 in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 83, Virat Kohli 80; Thisara Perera 3-34)

--IANS

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